Inner boot for a rigid boot

ABSTRACT

An inner boot able to be inserted inside a rigid boot, which comprises a rear zone having a lower portion, or heel zone, comprising a first insert made of flexible and/or elastic material, to allow an at least partial flexion of the inner boot and to facilitate the insertion and/or removal of a user&#39;s foot into/from inside the inner boot.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority to Italian Patent Application No. UD 2006 A 000204, filed 30 Aug. 2006, and is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an inner boot for a rigid boot, such as for example a ski boot, snowboard boot, trekking boot or other type of boot in general.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Inner boots are known for rigid sports boots, such as for example a ski boot, snowboard boot, trekking boot or suchlike.

Inner boots are generally deformable, at least in some part, so as to assist in the configurations that the boot can assume: that is, they must be able to assume a closed position, which prevents the foot from coming out and allows for example the sport to be practiced, facilitating this, and at least an open position, which facilitates and allows the foot to be inserted and removed.

It is known to make inner boots which, in the upper part of the bootleg have an insert made of flexible material which allows a partial flexion thereof, to facilitate the insertion of the foot.

However, the flexion achieved in these known solutions is very limited.

Moreover, the flexion of the upper part of the bootleg, when the foot is inserted, causes deformations of the lower part of the bootleg which, instead of facilitating, tend to obstruct and impede the insertion of the foot and, in the long term, ruin the bootleg.

It is also known to make inner boots which, in substance, have no bootleg, that is, they are “low”, in order to eliminate these problems of insertion, and which are inserted in the bottom of the rigid boot. However, these “low” inner boots have the disadvantage that the user's foot risks flattening the rear part of the heel zone, causing inconvenience to the user, since he/she is not always able to control the correct position for putting on the boot.

Purpose of one embodiment of the present invention is to achieve an inner boot which has great flexibility, to facilitate putting on the boot and inserting and removing the foot, which does not deform during these operations and which guarantees that optimum closed conditions are maintained, for example during sporting activity.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in claims.

In accordance with the above purpose, an inner boot according to one embodiment of the present invention can be inserted inside a rigid boot, such as for example a ski boot, a snowboard boot, a trekking boot or other boot in general.

According to a characteristic feature of one embodiment of the invention, the inner boot comprises, in the rear zone, a lower portion, or heel zone, just above and/or adjacent to the rear edge of the sole of the inner boot, comprising a first insert made of a flexible and/or elastic material, which allows an at least partial flexion of the inner boot, in particular when a user's foot is inserted inside the inner boot.

The inner boot according to one embodiment of the invention thus opens for a large extent backwards when the user thrusts with his heel on the rear, rigid part of the inner boot.

In this way, the user is considerably facilitated when he inserts his foot inside the inner boot, and hence inside the rigid boot.

According to one form of embodiment of the invention, the inner boot comprises an upper part, or bootleg, and a lower part, or vamp, which are made substantially of a first material.

The lower part, or vamp, comprises said lower portion or heel zone, and the first insert is made of a second material having a greater flexibility and/or elasticity than said first material.

According to a variant of one embodiment of the present invention, in a front portion which is able to fit close to the neck of the foot, the inner boot comprises a second insert made of flexible material, which advantageously cooperates with the first insert in order to facilitate the user even more when he inserts his foot.

According to a variant, the second insert consists of two elastic and/or flexible parts, each disposed on one side of the front portion of the inner boot.

According to one form of embodiment of the invention, the first insert and the second insert are substantially symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal median axis of the vamp of the inner boot.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first insert and the second insert are separated by a portion of more rigid material, which confers structural characteristics on the inner boot, assisting the correct flexion, without unwanted deformations.

According to another variant of the invention, the first insert and the second insert constitute a single flexible and elastic insert which is able to fit close to the neck of the foot and the heel, substantially with no break in continuity, completely surrounding the foot.

According to another variant of the invention, said single flexible and elastic insert constitutes substantially the whole lower portion, or vamp, of the inner boot.

The first insert and the second insert can be made of the same material, or of different flexible and/or elastic materials, as required.

Another alternative embodiment of the invention provides that the inner boot comprises, in its front portion, only the second insert.

The first insert and/or the second insert can extend from the sole of the inner boot, for a pre-determined height, according to the overall characteristics of flexibility and elasticity desired for the inner boot.

The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a lateral view of an inner boot according to the present invention in a first position of use;

FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the inner boot in FIG. 1 in a second condition of use; and

FIG. 3 is a lateral view of a variant of the inner boot in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the attached drawings show an inner boot 10, which is able to be inserted inside a rigid boot such as for example a ski boot, a snowboard boot, a trekking boot or suchlike.

The inner boot 10 comprises a bootleg 11, which fits close to the tarsus and/or lower tibia area of the user's leg, according to the height and use of the rigid boot, and an vamp 12, which fits close to the user's metatarsal zone and foot, which are made substantially of a first material, such as for example imitation leather with relative inner padding, or relatively rigid plastic.

The vamp 12 has a rear zone 21 which has a lower portion 14, or heel zone, which is provided with a first insert 15 made of a second material having greater flexibility and/or elasticity than the first material.

In this way, the first insert 15 allows the bootleg 11 to flex with respect to the vamp 12 for the whole of its length, facilitating the insertion of the foot, without the bootleg 11 deforming in a transverse direction and obstructing the passage of the user's foot or in any case determining deformed zones which might cause inconvenience to the user during use.

In fact, the stress of flexion exerted on the bootleg 11 leads to the flexion of the whole bootleg 11 and is discharged on the vamp 12, in which the first insert 15 functions as a preferential and pre-determined flexion zone. The overall structure of the inner boot 10 therefore has at least a flexion zone, that is, the first insert 15, which yields to the flexion stress in a preferential manner. In this way, it is possible to pre-determine the way in which the inner boot 10 flexes over all, preventing it from flexing in an unwanted way.

To allow the foot to be inserted, the bootleg 11 is selectively positionable in a first position, in which it prevents the foot from coming out from inside the inner boot 10 and in which the first insert 15 is substantially not deformed (FIG. 1), and a second position, inclined with respect to the first position, in which it allows the foot to be inserted/removed into/from the inside, and in which the first insert 15 is elastically deformed, that is, flattened (FIG. 2).

Once the bootleg 11 is no longer flexed in the second position, the first insert 15 is free to recover its original shape.

In order to insert the foot inside, the inner boot 10 comprises an aperture 16 disposed at an upper end of the bootleg 11.

The aperture 16 has a variable area, according to the different positions assumed by the bootleg 11 with respect to the vamp 12, at least between a first area, in the first position of the bootleg 11 (FIG. 1), such as to prevent the foot coming out, and a second area, in the second position of the bootleg 11 (FIG. 2), bigger than the first area, such as to allow the foot to be inserted/removed.

The inner boot 10 also has a sole 13, coupled with the vamp 12, for example glued.

Therefore, the first insert 15 is disposed just above and/or adjacent to a rear edge 23 of the sole 13.

The first insert 15 is connected partly to the vamp 12 and partly to the sole 13.

In this case, the heel zone 14 of the vamp 12 is sectioned to make a through aperture of a shape mating with and complementary to the desired shape of the first insert 15, which is applied to close the through aperture and is then fixed to the sole 13.

In this case, the first insert 15 extends transversely from the sole 13 and comprises an upper edge 19 connected to the vamp 12, for example sewn, and a lower edge 20, connected to the sole 13, for example glued.

The vamp 12 comprises a front portion, or tongue 17 (FIG. 3) which, according to a variant of the invention, comprises a second insert 18 made of a third material, having greater flexibility and/or elasticity than the first material, to allow the flexion at least of the bootleg 11 with respect to the vamp 12 and thus facilitate the insertion and/or removal of the foot into/from inside the inner boot 10.

The second insert 18 is particularly advantageous to allow the bootleg 11 an elastic recovery from the first position, acting as an elastic return.

It comes within the field of the invention that the inner boot 10 has a single elastic insert to facilitate insertion of the foot, which can be, according to requirements, the first insert 15 of the heel zone 14 or the second insert 18 of the tongue 17, or it may comprise both the first insert 15 and the second insert 18, which cooperate to facilitate the insertion of the foot and increase even more the flexibility of the inner boot 10.

According to a variant, said single elastic insert substantially constitutes the whole vamp 12.

The invention also provides that the second material and the third material are the same.

According to an advantageous variant of the invention the second material and the third material are different, to allow a targeted choice of the materials according to the zones of greatest flexion stress of the inner boot 10.

According to a variant of the invention, the first insert 15 and the second insert 18 are separated by a portion 22 made of rigid material.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the inner boot 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of inner boot for a rigid boot, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby. 

1. An inner boot able to be inserted inside a rigid boot, comprising a rear zone having a lower portion, or heel zone, comprising a first insert made of flexible and/or elastic material, to allow an at least partial flexion of said inner boot and to facilitate the insertion and/or removal of a user's foot into/from inside said inner boot.
 2. The inner boot as in claim 1, further comprising an upper part, or bootleg, and a lower part, or vamp, substantially made of a first material, wherein said lower part or vamp comprises said lower portion, or heel zone, and wherein said first insert is made of a second material having greater flexibility and/or elasticity than said first material.
 3. The inner boot as in claim 2, further comprising a sole coupled with said lower part or vamp, wherein said first insert is disposed just above and/or adjacent to a rear edge of said sole.
 4. The inner boot as in claim 3, wherein said upper part or bootleg is able to be selectively positioned in a first position, in which said upper part or bootleg is able to prevent the removal of said foot from inside said inner boot and in which said first insert is substantially not deformed, and in a second position, inclined with respect to said first position, in which said upper part or bootleg is able to allow the insertion/removal of said foot into/from inside said inner boot and in which said first insert is elastically deformed.
 5. The inner boot as in claim 4, further comprising an aperture disposed at an upper end of said upper part or bootleg, in order to insert said foot inside said inner boot, wherein said aperture has an area varying at least between a first area, in said first position of said upper part or bootleg, such as to prevent the removal of said foot, and a second area, in said second position of said upper part or bootleg, greater than said first area, such as to allow the insertion/removal of said foot.
 6. The inner boot as in claim 3, wherein said first insert is connected partly to said lower part or vamp, and partly to said sole.
 7. The inner boot as in claim 3, wherein said first insert extends transversely from said sole and comprises an upper edge connected to said lower part or vamp, and a lower edge connected to said sole.
 8. The inner boot as in claim 2, wherein said lower part or vamp comprises a front portion or tongue, comprising a second insert made of a third material having greater flexibility and/or elasticity than said first material, so as to allow the flexion at least of said upper part or bootleg with respect to said lower part or vamp, and to facilitate the insertion and/or the removal of a user's foot into/from inside said inner boot.
 9. The inner boot as in claim 8, wherein said second material and said third material are the same.
 10. The inner boot as in claim 8, wherein said second material and said third material are different.
 11. The inner boot as in claim 8, wherein said first insert and said second insert make a single insert which completely surrounds said foot.
 12. The inner boot as in claim 3, wherein said first insert and/or said second insert extend for a pre-determined height of said sole.
 13. The inner boot as in claim 8, wherein said first insert and said second insert are separated by a portion made of rigid material.
 14. The inner boot as in claim 2, wherein said first insert and said second insert are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal median axis of said lower part or vamp.
 15. The inner boot as in claim 8, wherein said second insert comprises two distinct parts, each disposed on one side of said front portion or tongue.
 16. The inner boot as in claim 8, wherein said first insert and/or said second insert substantially constitute the whole of said lower portion or vamp.
 17. An inner boot able to be inserted inside a rigid boot, comprising a front portion or tongue, comprising an insert made of flexible and/or elastic material, to allow an at least partial flexion of said inner boot and to facilitate the insertion and/or the removal of a user's foot into/from inside said inner boot.
 18. A rigid boot, such as for example a ski boot, a snowboard boot, a trekking boot or suchlike, comprising an inner boot as in claim
 1. 